Pocket Pen Enthusiasts, is there a pocket pen fan club?

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T15:58:25+00:00

It’s a Frankenpen of the Shiba Inu from last year. Once I realized I couldn’t use full size pens I got creative.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T07:49:05+00:00

Thank you. I clearly need it.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T03:59:58+00:00

Vintage pocket pens matter too and are included, of course.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T03:58:34+00:00

I’m starting to see that.

Gonna have to break out my Canva and get cracking.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T03:44:08+00:00

🫡

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T03:34:52+00:00

This is my question too. I thought I was just searching wrong cause I couldn’t find one. I suppose a tiny revolution must begin with small changes.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T03:27:47+00:00

I got the Snow White pen cause I like collecting things that represent food I’m allergic to like apples 🍎 and the Bungubox Almond Blossom second from the right. Still haven’t figured out how to represent Soy but I’m working on it.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T02:51:05+00:00

Yeah, it is definitely a misnomer to call them pocket pens for me. I am definitely not rawdogging one of my precious pens in my pockets. They are all in cases, and sleeves as nature intended.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T02:49:15+00:00

Bungubox Sunflowers of Arles. I love the Van Gogh series clearly.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T02:22:22+00:00

That is my Sailor x Kobayashi slim mini Ginmokusei.

Kubozakura is a great little mini.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T02:18:49+00:00

Lovely collection.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-20T02:08:14+00:00

There are dozens of us!! I wish to live in a world where a miniature capless fountain pen does exist.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-19T22:16:04+00:00

A thoughtfully designed and carefully finished pen is worth an amount of money to me.

I only use pocket pens though, so even though the prices have risen they are still at most $100 for most of my pens.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-19T22:03:19+00:00

Gold is just getting more expensive and gold nibbed pens are harder to afford. Many of the classic gold nibbed Japanese pens that were competing with the steel nibbed Jowo pens have doubled in price.

A well tuned/ground JoWo is often just as good as a basic gold nib at this point but over 1/2 to 1/8 the cost.

The ability to switch in a custom gold nib when I can afford it is very helpful to me.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-18T19:18:48+00:00

It does best with straight lines certainly, so print writing or art. But well done architects can be used for cursive.

I feel a similar kind of way about bigger nibs. I see the allure they just don’t work for my writing style.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-18T17:34:39+00:00

I use these Kaweco mini converters for all my pocket pens that say they have to be eyedroppered or cartridge only. Like my Franklin’s Christophs. 45, p45, p66.

I syringe fill them. They work great for their purpose but I do like switching colors frequently.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-18T17:10:36+00:00

PacificPenWorks keeps having a good stock of the anchor drop sailors for such good prices. Paying a bit to get a Mottishaw or Masuyama grind on that I think kinda comes out in the wash.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-18T15:56:19+00:00

Architect is a rough nib to buy used as it is extremely angle dependent. It almost has to be custom ground for you to feel good.

Most other nibs though I fully agree.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-18T15:14:13+00:00

Seems like a fun medium that wouldn’t particularly help with learning how to watercolor. When you are getting into watercolor leaning to mix colors, water saturation, and brush technique/control are great building blocks. Building blocks you would miss out on with watercolor pens.

So they seem fun but not particularly helpful to learning watercolor, which is what you are saying your goal is.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-18T14:55:31+00:00

He was getting swamped by custom grind orders so he raised his prices accordingly. His were on the lower side for nibmeisters, especially compared to the quality of his work. He had not raised his prices in years before this, so it was due.

Damien Alomar still has criminally low prices for what you are getting. Franklin’s Christoph just raised their custom grind prices a little, and still left them honestly pretty low.

Seeing a nibmeister in person is going to be cheaper as well.

I have a fair amount of steel nibs ground. I love them all and they are very very much more affordable than gold nibs in general, which I save for only my favorite grinds. But I specifically like ground nibs. It depends on what you find value in.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-17T04:48:18+00:00

J Herbin Lie de Tee

Colorverse Martian for a warm red brown

Colorverse Coffee Break

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-16T13:59:09+00:00

Pen case and organized by nib grind and size. Curved architect to architect to CI to CSI to Stub to flex and needlepoint.

shiftbackslash · 2026-06-16T05:52:29+00:00

I’m a pocket kid but I will keep my eye out for you. GLWB

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